Know What You Own: ETF Deathwatch for December 2017

“ETF Deathwatch for December had 15 additions and 18 exits. The membership tally decreased to 454. Slightly less than half of the funds exiting the Deathwatch list were due to improved health. Ten funds on the list closed during December. Only one of those was an ETN. Only two of the funds added to the list were ETNs, iPath Pure Beta Cocoa ETN (CHOC) and JP Morgan Cushing 30 MLP Index ETNS (PPLN). All other removals and additions were ETFs. The presence of so few ETNs (typically more financially creative products) among the closures and additions indicates a more conservative market.”